Here are a few things to pay attention to in the Missouri Valley as the NCAA basketball season nears and signing day is around the corner:

Best incoming freshman

PF Dantiel Daniels to Southern Illinois
The undersized power forward plays a lot bigger than his 6-foot-6, 225-pound frame. He is a powerful above-the-rim finisher who rebounds at a high rate on both ends in and out of his area. Plus, he is an elite shot-blocker. As a senior in high school Daniels was a stat-sheet stuffer including a couple triple-doubles en route to averaging 21.7 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.1 blocks per game. Daniels will be a matchup nightmare in this conference.